Nothing like a beautiful sandwich

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2016 (3274 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Years ago when I worked in Winnipeg’s Exchange District we could lunch at the King’s Head Pub, or grab dim sum or a noodle bowl and that was about it.

Recently, the area has been repopulated with exceptional restaurants and now all you have to do is head in that direction and you are certain to come across one. You will not have any problem remembering where King + Bannatyne is located — it’s right there in the name.

We intentionally decided to meet at 11:45 a.m. before the rest of the lunch crowd arrived and it was a good thing we did, because we were fortunate to occupy one of the last open tables. There was counter service, which means that all their staff can be busy with ensuring that you get your sandwich efficiently but it is still made to order. You can taste the freshness with your first and last bite.

My lunch date raved about her River City Brisket sandwich. She said it was the perfect ratio of meat and fat and appreciated the tenderness as well as the bold taste from the spicy rub and house-made mustard. She was less enamoured with the potato leek soup but admitted it was because she makes her own decadent version.

Equally loving pork and cilantro, the Bann-Mi was an obvious choice for me. King + Bannatyne’s ode to a Vietnamese sub sandwich is chock full of just-cut pork roast and spritely tastes of cilantro and cucumber. Even the bun was a testament to freshness. The potato salad that I choose as a side was an appropriate foil to the sandwich. The potatoes had been (I am guessing here) marinated in vinegar and then tossed in sour cream or perhaps a mix of sour cream and mayonnaise. The result was a salad where the lovely earthy taste of the potatoes held its own.

Fear not if you are vegetarian, as chef Tyrone is always experimenting with versions of veggie sandwiches.

Kathryne Grisim is a local food and travel writer and blogger: foodmusings.ca. She believes food = love.